Multicoil spring structure



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Dec. 18, 1934. R. COOPERSMITH MULTICOIL SPRING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 2, 1931 Patented Dec. 18, 1934 PAT form c --1, 9s5,o2o p nun'rreorr'. seams STRUCTURE miphcobpenmichgst. imagine I Application Jame, i931, sensin 506,142 6 Claims. (01'. -263).

This invention relates to spring structures in a which a multiplicity of coils, are distributed over an extended area so that each coil forms a cushion for its allotted portion of that area.

5 Bed springs and cushioning springs-for upholstructures of this character.

stered furniture are typical illustrations of spring The invention is particularly applicable to the cushioning structures for upholstered furniture, which are customarily built up of helically coiled springs, assembled by the upholsterer himself to fit each individual job or piece of furniture, the usual method being to tie the springs together in their assembled relationship by means of flexible cord, such as hemp rope, and to. secure the ends of the cord to the frame of the seat or back of the furniture. The springs are sometimes supported additionally by means of webs of textile material or cloth. The, principal advantages of these cloth or rope connections reside in the fact that the materials are soft and flexible, are readily adaptable andconformable to divers forms and sizes of cushion structures, are easily attached by tying, and do not squeak because of their non-rigid or non-metallic nature. However, these materials are fragile and wear throughor are torn through in'thecourse of a more or less extended period of use, and moreover, they are liable to stretch and sag perma nently and thereby-to impair the usefulness and eihciency of the cushion as well as the appearance of the furniture. 1

Accordingly, the principal purpose of'the pres-' ent invention is to provide a multi-coil spring structure which willnot squeak and yet will possess all the advantages of the cloth-or-cord embodying structure without any of its disadvantages.

"A further object of the invention is to provide a multi-coil spring structure that can be readily assembled in such. a manner that it can be quickly taken apart without destroying or cutting any of its constituent parts.

A further object is to eliminate looseness of fit between adjacent -or abutting parts of the structure. V

A further object of the invention is to provide an all-metallic springstructure which will possess the flexibility of a structure soft or textile material.

. A'further object of the invention is to provide means for, increasing the resiliency of the cushion structure.

their supports in any suitable mannerybut, in

of the following description of divers illustrative embodimentsof the. spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 isa bottom view of a frame for a lounge or settee, embodying two divers forms of spring-assembly made-in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is'a fragmentary enlargement bottom view of the form of assembly shown at the left half of Figure 1; r

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of one of the straps or connecting elements of Figure 2, as it appears when viewed from the top; L

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the same taken on the line 44 in Figure 3, together with associated parts;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlargement bottom view of the form'of assemblyshown at the right half of Figure 1; I

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation of the structure as shown ,in Figure 2, and at the left half of Figure 1, with the exception that the strap connectors are inverted, and a tension spring is connected to each form of connector.

Figure '7 is a-fragmentary view of a modification of the form of strap shown in Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the same taken on the line 8- 8 in Figure 7, together with associated parts; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view eiiibiting a further modification of the connectors.

The coil springs 1 are connected together by elongated members 2 and elongated members 3 '35 that co-operate to form interlacing or interlock- 'ing connections with the coil springs l. The

members 2 are preferably, but not necessarily, connected to a suitable frame or support, as, for instance, the framework of the article of furniture. If desired,-a special" frame may be formed to receive the spring structure and the whole may be inserted in or removed from the article of furniture as anassembled unit. One form 4 of such a frame is shown in Figure 1, and comprises front and rear members 5, side members 6, and a middle member '1, all preferably formed of angle iron and suitably secured together. The members 2 may be connected to the present embodiment, they are shown connected to the members 5, 6, and 7 through the intermediation of resilient means, exemplified by the helical springs 8, which are under tension tostretch the members 2. The members 2 are provided with suitable conformations for definitely locating the springs 1 and the members 3 with relation thereto, as exemplified by the bends 9 and the openings 10 therein. In the form shown in Figures 2 and 4, and at the left side of Figure 1, the strap connectors 2 pass diametrically across the bottom ends of the springs 1, the straps 2, that extend longitudinally of the frame 4, crossing centrally of the coils 1, those straps 2 that extend in a transverse direction. The bends 9 are, also, downwardly presented, so that the wires of the springs 1 rest on the extended concave closely fitting inside surface of the bends instead of on a mere tangent point or line of the straps 2, as best shown in Figure 4. The rods or wires 3 extend through the openings 10 between the spring wire 1 and the strap 2, thereby forming an interlacing or interlocking connection therewith.

In the form of the invention exhibited at the right side of Figure 1 and in Figure 5, the straps or strips 2' are disposed substantially tangent to the coils of the springs 1; and the longitudinally extending straps 2 cross the transversely extending straps 2 at points intermediate of the springs 1. In this form of the invention, the bends 9 are upwardly directed, and a comparatively great length of the wires of the springs 1 engages an extensive flat surface of the strips 2, thereby affording a substantial bearing surface. Inthiscasethespringwireslextend through the openings 10 intermediate the strips 2 and the wires 3, the latter nesting against the concave inner side of the bends 9. If adjacent springs are close enough, 'a wide strip 11, having apairofopenings IO-ineachbendforapairof adjacent springs 1 may be substituted for two narrow adjacent parallel strips that would be needed thereat.

lfdesiredtheends ofthewiresorrodsiimay be provided with loops 12 for connection to one' end of helical springs 18, whose opposite ends may be connected to the frame or support 4, as.

shown in Figured, whereby the rods 3 assist the straps 2 in supporting 13 assist the springs 8. In Figure 6, also, another modification resides in the straps 2, which are here shown with their bends 9 upwardly directed, in contradistinction to the downwardly presented bends 9 of the straps 2 of Figures 2 and 4. Figures 7 and 8 exhibit a modified form of strap 2 in which a pair of holes 14 is substituted for the slotted opening 10. Figure 8 shows the strap 2 of Figure 7 arranged diametrically of the coil spring 1 and with the tie-rod 3 coextensive with the strap 2, after the manner of Figure-2, the strap of Figures .7 and 8 being substituted in Figure 2. The strap of Figures 7 and 8 may, also, be arranged tangentially of the coil springs l as a substitute .for the straps 2 in Figure 5. In this case, through the holes 14 in the bend 9 of the strap, the holes preventing transverse movement of the wire of the spring and holding it in locked position without the aid of tie rods. Hence, any of applicant's springs 1 without disturbing the connection of the other coil springs 1 to their adjacent strips. However, this tangential the load, and the springs the spring 1 is threaded may be inserted into or removed from the structure The connectors or elongated elements 2 and 3, as well as the springs, are preferably formed of metal. The bends 9 and openings 10 are preformed in the strips 2; and the latter are sufllciently thin and flexible to straighten under tension and bind tightly against the connector wires 3 and the spring wires 1, thereby eliminating looseness at the joints, and the noises and squeaks that would result therefrom whenever the load on the structure is changed. The springs 8 put the flexible strips 2 under tension, as well as add to the resiliency of the structure. It will be further appreciated that the structure can be easily assembled; and, also, easily taken apart without destroying or cutting any part. Furthermore, the strips 2 and wires 3 can be supplied to the upholsterer in coils of great length, and he may cut oil any length desired for the job at hand. The strips 2 present a comparatively wide flexible bearing surface to the springs 1, and. moreover, will support spring ends of large diameter, so that the coils 1 may be of the double conical type having both ends of large diameter and a constricted intermediate portion.

Having thus fully described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it is evident that many minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

ible strip tangential thereto, the said strip being bent into loop formation at its point of tangency to the spring and having a pair of openings disposed respectively 'inthe opposite ends of the intermediate portion of the loop, and the spring passing through said openings and having the end 01' its coil adjacent to said strip free to thread into and out of the said openings, and means for continuously tensioning said strip to bind its loop tightly against said spring.

2. In a multi-coil spring structure, the combination of a row of coil springs and a pair of strips tangential thereto on opposite sides of said row, said strips being bent to form flexible loops at their point of tangency to said springs, there being a pair of openings disposed respectively in the opposite ends of the intermediate portions of the loops, and the springs being threaded through said openings and presenting free ends to permit such threading, and means for continuously tensioning said strips to bind their loops tightly against said springs.

3. In a multi-coil spring structure, the combination of a row of coil springs, a pair of strips tangential thereto on opposite sides of said row, said strips being bent to form flexible loops at their point of tangency to said springs, there being a pair of openings disposed respectively in the opposite ends of the intermediate portions of the lops, the springs being threaded through said openings and presenting free ends to permit such threading and a row of elongated members that connect said strips and interlace with said strips and springs at their points of tangency, and means for continuously maintaining said loops tightly against said springs.

4. In a multi-coil spring structure, a group of coil springs arranged in intersecting rows, and a group of strips arranged in intersecting rows and tangential to said coil springs, said strips being bent to form flexible loops at their points of tangency to the springs, there being a pair of openings disposed respectively in the opp site ends of the intermediate portions of the loops, and the springs being threaded through said openings and presenting free ends to permit such threading, and means for continuously maintaining said loops tightly against said springs.

5. In a multi-coil spring structure, a group of coil springs arranged in intersecting rows, a groups of strips arranged in intersecting rows and tangential to said coil springs, said strips being bent to form flexible loops at their points of tangency to the springs, there being a pair of openings disposed respectively in the opposite ends of the intermediate portions of the loops,

the springs being threaded through said openings and presenting free ends to permit such threading, a group of elongated members arranged in intersecting rows and that interlace with the members of the other groups at their said points of tangency, and means for continuously maintaining said loops tightly against said springs.

6. In a multi-coil spring structure, a rigid marginal supporting frame, a group of coil springs within the frame, elongated elements connecting the coil springs and having flexible loops and a pair of openings in each loop disposed respectively in the opposite sides adjacent the medial portion of each loo the wires of the springs passing through said openings and being bound therein when tension is applied to the loops to straighten them, and respective means for resiliently maintaining each of said elongated elements under tension independently of its fellows, said resilient means being connected in series relation to said elongated elements, and the opposite ends of the series being connected to those sides of the frame respectively adjacent thereto.

RUDOLPH COOPERSMITH. 

